02.15.2013

Spring Cleaning. It’s almost that time of year. And, well, my apartment complex has decided that spring cleaning should happen in February (we actually have annual cleanliness inspections–lolwut). So I’ve created a temporary board for ideas on getting my home to look sparkly and new. (Since I already have these pins mixed in with other random tips and tricks, I’ll probably delete this board at the beginning of summer.)

Vine. I’ve been thinking about possibly getting into the Vine app, but I’ve heard complaints that there is a major problem with porn in the app. Basically, the app allows users to upload 6-second videos to Vine, which can then be shared on Twitter and/or Facebook. Much like on Twitter or Instagram, you can explore trending topics and hashtags (which, I’m guessing, is where people are happening upon explicit material). Since Vine has received a lot of complaints about children finding pornographic clips, Vine has changed its age restriction to 17+. (I may still get try it because it seems I may need to know how to use it as a journalist.) Available in iTunes for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. FREE.

Tamagotchi. Nineties kids, rejoice. Tamagotchi is back (and probably needier than ever). Sure, you won’t get to carry your digital pet around on a cool key chain, but who cares? You get your favorite little guy back (and no pesky teacher can ban you from having it)! And this time, your mom won’t have to feed it every ten minutes. Just whip out your phone and feed your pet, then get back to work–just don’t let your boss know that’s not really an important email you were checking. Available in Google Play for Android. (iTunes version is in the works.) FREE.

Pitch Perfect. Thanks to Redbox’s Valentine’s Day code from Redbox, I rented Pitch Perfect for free last night. We’re going to watch it tonight as part of our Valentine date. (There were supposed to be two Valentine codes–I was going to rent three movies in all–but one didn’t work; that was disappointing because I wanted to rent the latest Bourne movie for Josh to watch today while I’m not home.)

The Watch. Another freebie from Redbox. Yesterday, Redbox posted a code on Facebook to celebrate reaching 5,000 fans. We’ll also be watching the Watch tonight. (We’re both stoked about this movie.)

Gumbo. On Fat Tuesday, my sister shared this Chicken and Sausage Gumbo recipe on my Facebook wall and told me to make it for her. I haven’t made it yet, but, although it’s no longer Mardi Gras, I still really want to try it. Obviously there will be photos if I make it.

Spiders. Have you seen this video of the bajillion spiders raining down in Brazil? Creeeeppppyyyy! According to the Washington Post article, this isn’t uncommon. Sometimes the wind picks up these spiders (they make big webs in the sky) and when it releases them, they look like they’re just falling from the sky. So… I think I won’t be going to Brazil, like, ever.

Dove. Have you seen this commercial from Dove? It was kind of surprising considering Dove’s Real Beauty campaign. This commercial (and the comments posted below it) presents a good discussion about a happiness tied to beauty products. I’d love to read your thoughts about this in the comments!

Post-Valentine’s Day. Today is one of my favorite holidays: the day after Valentine’s Day. It’s a magical day when all the Valentine crafts and candies go on sale (like, 50-plus percent). It’s beautiful, really. I hope I don’t get to the store too late to rack up on some adorable Valentine sprinkles. And lots of chocolate. Because it offers lots of health benefits, and even if that list isn’t super long, it’s good enough for me.

This review is for the Roku 2 XS. Roku offers other device options, which are available with different features. Visit shop.roku.com to find the device that best suits your needs.

Until Christmas, I had never heard of a Roku. That was when I got a tour of my dad’s Roku (which kind of confused me–I got that he was excited about his sort-of-new toy, but he was really going in depth to be just showing it off). Later that weekend, when I opened the box to my very own Roku 2 XS, I totally got why he showed me all those features.

Now, thanks to my dad and stepmom, I no longer have to use this…

And this…

And this…

To stream video on this:

(Seriously, though, don’t all those cords look beastly? And don’t get me started on how long my computer takes to boot up.)

Roku stays put. No more plugging and unpluging the VGA cord from my computer and TV. No more sound cord to deal with. Just a little black box. Simple.

Roku comes standard with a video cord, but Josh and I plugged it into the TV using an HDMI cable instead. With the standard video cord, we had problems buffering some shows on Netflix, and the HDMI cable solved that.

Roku also comes with a little remote. I like it (I find it comfortable and easy to use), but not everyone is a fan. When you download the Roku app (available in iTunes or Google Play), you can program a remote to sync with your device, allowing you to use your smartphone or tablet as a remote for your Roku (though I imagine the phone is much less awkward than the tablet remote).

There’s even a USB port on the side, where you can plug in and watch digital copies of movies you own, listen to music or view your photos.

My initial excitement over my new Roku came from a want to easily stream Netflix, but Roku can do so much more. If you prefer Amazon, you can stream Amazon Instant Video movies and shows to your TV too. Or you can stream from Hulu Plus. Or Crackle, Vudu, Vevo, HBO GO, Epix… the list goes on.

Some websites have jumped on board too. You can watch cooking videos from allrecipes.com—convenient if you have a TV located close to your kitchen. And some fitness subscription sites like Gaiam and YogaVibes give users unlimited access to workout videos via Roku.

Though Roku is built for streaming video, it can bring other forms of entertainment to your TV as well. In fact, one of my favorite ways to use my Roku is for streaming music from Pandora—perfect for when I’m cleaning up around the apartment or chilling with friends (kidding—no one shares my taste in music).

Roku also acts as a sort of gaming device. Much like Wii, Roku allows the player to interact with the screen by using the remote, which also acts as a mouse at times. However, I haven’t had much experience playing games on my Roku (I spent maybe five minutes testing out the Angry Birds game that came preloaded on it). Honestly, my fascination comes from streaming shows and movies.

So far, I’m completely loving my Roku. Since adding the HDMI cable, I’ve had no complaints. (Josh’s only complaint has been that the TV repeatedly switches to the video setting for Roku whenever he turns on the TV, which is frustrating when he wants to play his Playstation instead. But I’m pretty sure that’s an issue with my TV, not Roku.)

Now the only problem is I only have one! (Gosh, I’d love to have a Roku in the bedroom too. One day.)

I was not reimbursed or rewarded in any way for this review. These thoughts and comments are my own and have no reflection on Roku, its employees or its affiliates.